Looking for a Science of Reading teacher training you can actually do on your own time, without sitting through a 3-day PD that leaves you more confused than when you started? This free 3-part mini-course covers everything you need to know about how kids learn to read, why some kids struggle, and what actually works to help them catch up. You will walk away with an entirely new perspective on teaching reading and have a solid game plan for how to reach your struggling readers!
Welcome to the Be the Difference Series, a science of reading teacher training designed to help teachers UNDERSTAND reading in a simple, straightforward way. If you’ve landed here, you must have a struggling reader in your life, or just be looking to brush up on your reading instruction skills. Either way, you are in the right spot!
Once you understand why a student is stuck, the path to helping them becomes so much clearer.
I have gathered up 3 powerful Science of Reading mini-lessons that review the best ways to help struggling readers, all in 1 easy to access post.
Work through them at your own pace, whether that’s one lesson a day or binging all 3 in one sitting.
At the very end there is a free reading guide as well to help you plan a path to reading success. 🌟
Ready? Let’s dive in.
What’s Inside This Science of Reading Teacher Training?
This course is broken into 3 lessons. Each one includes:
- A blog post
- A video
- Free downloadable notes
(+ a free downloadable reading guide at the end!)
Lesson 1: How do Kids Learn to Read?
Before you can help a struggling reader, you need to understand how reading development is supposed to work. In this first lesson, you’ll discover the 8 crucial steps every student goes through to become a reader, and why each one matters.
- Read the blog post: How Every Kid Learns to Read: 8 Reading Steps to Success
- Watch the video overview (embedded below) 👇
- Download the free lesson notes: Lesson 1 Notes – HOW Kids Learn to Read
Blog Post:
Click here to read Part 1: How Every Kid Learns to Read: 8 Reading Steps to Success
Video:
Lesson Notes:
Click here to download Lesson 1 Notes: HOW Kids Learn to Read
Lesson 2: Why is My Student Struggling to Read?
Now that you know how reading development works, this lesson digs into where things go wrong. You’ll learn about the 4 different types of struggling readers and the specific skill gaps each one has.
This lesson is a game changer. So many teachers tell me that once they can identify which type of struggling reader they’re working with, intervention suddenly makes so much more sense.
- Read the blog post: Why is My Student Struggling to Read? 4 Hidden Reading Difficulties Revealed
- Watch the video overview (embedded below) 👇
- Download the free lesson notes: Lesson 2 Notes – WHY Some Kids Struggle
Blog Post:
Click here to read Part 2: Why is My Student Struggling to Read? 4 Hidden Reading Difficulties
Video:
Lesson notes:
Click here to download Lesson 2 Notes: WHY Some Kids Struggle
Lesson 3: What Actually Works to Catch Struggling Readers Up?
This is the lesson where it all comes together. This is where your science of reading teacher training really pays off, because now you have the foundation to understand what actually works. We dive into the 3 biggest mistakes teachers make with reading intervention and what works instead. You’ll also learn the critical difference between Prevention and Intervention and how to close the gap before it widens.
- Read the blog post: Learning to Read: What Actually Works for Struggling Readers
- Watch the video overview (embedded below) 👇
- Download the free lesson notes: Lesson 3 Notes – WHAT to Do to Help Them
Blog Post:
Click here to read Part 3: What Actually Works for Struggling Readers
Video:
Lesson Notes:
Click here to download Lesson 3 Notes: WHAT to Do to Help Them
Free Bridge the Gap Reading Guide
Now that you have the knowledge, you need a plan. This free Bridge the Gap Reading Guide helps you map out the exact skill progression your struggling readers need to follow. Think of this guide as the action plan that goes with your science of reading teacher training.
It covers both sides of the reading bridge: Word Reading and Language Comprehension.
You need both to build strong readers!
Use Lesson 2 to figure out which side your student needs help on, then use this guide to work on that side step-by-step.
⬇️ Download Your FREE Bridge the Gap Reading Guide
Click here to download your FREE Bridge the Gap Reading Guide!
Start Using Your Science of Reading Teacher Training Today
You’ve completed the course! You now have a solid understanding of how reading works, why some students struggle, and what you can do to help them. That puts you in a much better position to actually help your struggling readers, because you understand what’s going on beneath the surface.
Reading intervention doesn’t have to feel overwhelming when you know the WHY behind what you’re doing.
If you want even more support, grab this FREE Reading Intervention Cheat Sheet to help you identify exactly where your struggling readers need help and what activities to use.
You can absolutely be the teacher that makes a difference for your struggling readers! I believe in you!🩵
📌Save this for later! Free Science of Reading Teacher Training: 3-Part Mini-Course for Busy Educators
🕮 For additional reading:
The Big 5 Reading Skills: Why You Need to Teach Them
11 Reading Intervention Strategies that Work
Orthographic Mapping: The Key to Learning to Read
